第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36～55各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
The Pecan (山核桃) Thief
When I was six years old, I was visiting my grandfather’s farm in Kansas. Grandpa had sent me into the 36 to gather pecans for us to enjoy later.
Pecan picking was really 37 work and my little basket was only half full. I wasn’t about to 38 Grandpa down. Just then something caught my 39. A large brown squirrel was a few feet away. I watched as he picked up a pecan, hurried to a tree and 40 in a large hole in the trunk. A moment later the squirrel 41 out and climbed down to the ground to pick up another nut. Once again, he took the pecan back to his hiding place.
The hiding place was not so 42 anymore, I thought. I dashed over to the tree and looked into the hole. It was 43 with pecans! Golden pecans were right there for taking. This was my 44. Handful by handful, I scooped all of those pecans into my basket. Now it was full! I was so 45 of myself. I couldn’t wait to show Grandpa all the pecans. 46, I ran back and shouted, “Look at all the pecans!” He looked into the basket and said, “Well, well, how did you find so many?” I told him how I’d 47 the squirrel and taken the pecans from his hiding place.
Grandpa congratulated me on how smart I’d been in observing the squirrel and his habits. Then he did something that 48 me. He handed the basket back to me and put his arm gently 49 my shoulders.
“That squirrel worked very hard to gather his winter 50 of food,” he said, “Now that all of his pecans are gone, don’t you think that little squirrel will 51 the cold winter?”
“I didn’t think about that,” I said.
“I know,” Grandpa said. “But a good man should never take 52 of someone else’s hard work.”
Suddenly I felt a bit 53. The image of the starving squirrel wouldn’t 54 my mind. There was only one thing I could do. I carried the basket back to the tree and poured all the nuts into the hole.
I didn’t eat an pecan that night, but I had something much more filling — the 55 of knowing I had done just the right thing.
36. A. rooms B. woods C. holes D. roads
37. A. hard B. dirty C. light D. easy
38. A. let B. settle C. have D. keep
39. A. sweater B. basket C. eye D. hand
40. A. joined B. lived C. discovered D. disappeared
41. A. jumped B. held C. stood D. found
42. A. strange B. secret C. anxious D. patient
43. A. covered B. filled C. rebuilt D. decorated
44. A. turn B. choice C. chance D. achievement
45. A. afraid B. ashamed C. careful D. proud
46. A. Otherwise B. However C. Besides D. Therefore
47. A. driven B. followed C. protected D. caught
48. A. annoyed B. satisfied C. surprised D. delighted
49. A. off B. besides C. over D. around
50. A. supply B. cost C. price D. quality
51. A. escape B. get C. survive D. fled
52. A. place B. notice C. advantage D. charge
53. A. guilty B. curious C. happy D. excited
54. A. open B. leave C. cross D. close
55. A. inspiration B. expectation C. impression D. satisfaction
